Oct 16, 2013

I am taking part in Blog action Day and theme for this year is Human Rights

I thought at length
about what exactly I can write on this topic. I have been advocate of human
rights at workplace in my career and I choose to work in the same field. Each
day we train and educate workers about their basic rights as human being. We
actively campaign against any form of slavery, bondage, harassment, torture,
child labor, etc.

I wanted to write
something about workers, so I started with the same, but could never finish it.
There has been so much said and done about what should be done to protect human
rights, I had nothing more to add.

As per UN Declaration of
human rights there are thirty human rights. These thirty rights are translated
into seven fundamental rights of India. You can read more about each right at blogs
of my blogger friends - Shilpa and Kajal.

Just in the time when I
was giving up, I got into a discussion about why human rights? Do we need them?
If no, why we have them? Someone argued that they are so basic that it doesn’t make
sense to have them; any free willing society will anyway support such rights of
human being, therefore no need to have them declared and built into the
constitutions. I argued back that since we have always had these rights, we
probably don’t know why each of them needs to be legalized moreover even now
many rights are denied to many citizens either by ignorance or by will, which
in both cases is an offence.

There started a
conversation on denial of human rights. In what form it may exist and where?

When a girl child is
treated badly because her brother is more important, it is denying the right of
equality.

At workplace, when a
boss picks up a colleague and promotes him not on merit but because he belongs
to same religion, it is discrimination.

When a female fetus is
aborted, it is refusal of life.

When a worker is made to
work under worst conditions, against no pay, its slavery.

When women are abused or
raped, it is torture.

Murder in name of honor killing
is denial of right to recognition.

When an offender can be
saved on the basis of bribe, it is inequality and lack of protection by law.

When in name of
protocol, when members of a particular faith are detained without proof, it is
unfair detainment.

When the same man is
charged penalty without a trial, it is denial of his right to fair trial.

When an MMS on a person’s
private life is circulated without his knowledge it is denial to his privacy.

When an employer keeps
the passport of an employee under custody, it is denial of his right to move.

When citizens of a
country cannot seek refuge in another, it is denial to his right to choose a
safe place.

When an author is denied
citizenship on the basis of his views offensive to a particular community, it
is denial of his right to nationality.

When a woman is forced
into marriage she is not willing for, it denial of her right to marriage and
family.

Theft or robbery is
denial of right to own things.

When a journalist is
abducted for making an offensive cartoon it is denial of his right to think and
express.

When silent protesters
are charged with tear gas and baton, it is denial of their right to assemble.

When a ballot is counted
unfairly, it is denial of democracy.

When a person is denied
is his pension, it is denial of his social security.

When a worker is continuously
denied his weekly rest days, it is denial of his right to leisure.

When a man dies of
hunger, it is denial of his right to food and shelter.

When a child is made to
labor, it is denial of his right to education.

Plagiarism is a denial
of right to copyright.

When a person is denied
any of his basic rights, it is denial of his right to fair world.

I don’t think these
issues are extinct or never heard of. In our world, where most people are aware
of our rights, every now and then someone is denied of his/her human rights and
when we talk of human right we talk as if we are above them and we no longer
need these as laws.

Sep 20, 2013

Once again in my life I came across a situation where I met a girl whose future was endangered. An orphan at the age of six, this girl landed at my house seeking job at when she was nine year old through a reference.

Torn between the ideology and the reality, my mother reluctantly agreed to give her a job that fetched her two meals, provided her with a safe housing and in addition an assurance to education.

When I met her, working in my house, which mainly included playing with my niece and ensuring that she is not engaged in chewing something wrong, my first reaction was rage at my mother on hiring a child labor.

However, my mother told me her entire story and calmed me down. I, working in the social responsibility field, could still not allow this till this was a last option.

I did a quick Google search on help that is available for orphans and child labors. There were a few NGOs working in this sector. A small verification told me that they received very little grant and several layers of authorities make it impossible for any government money to reach there. On top of it, general conditions in many such NGOs is pitiable and children often try to escape.

Staying with relatives for orphaned children, often results in no education and especially in case of girls it is more so. In addition, staying in these slums without their parents makes these kids vulnerable to sexual abuse.

I often question that in absence of any social security and government run mass programs for orphans, what does future hold for these children?

Please let me know if you know any remarkable organization which is really doing a commendable job beyond capital cities.

Sep 11, 2013

The 30 days 30 books is back. With nothing big in sight, (no contests, festivals or other blogging and non-blogging priority) I believe that I can finish the remaining 12 days of 30 days 30 books at once.

Well, this won’t be done alone of course. There will be a lot of reviews shared by others. Let’s wait and see who all come up with posts for this.

But for today, I review one of my favorite books – Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

As soon as we mention the book we think Julia Roberts and various news that flashed around her India tour for the movie. But for me it is much more than that.

For starters, I didn’t like the movie. On the other hand I completely agree with Elle which reviewed the book and said that it’s a word of mouth bestseller.

A book that became women’s secret of life has something for everyone. Whether you seek food, man or god (depending on your age and interest) there is a chapter just for you.

This is an autobiography of Liz Gilbert, post her divorce and her unsuccessful rebound. The book is divided into three parts – Eat Pray and Love, in Rome, India and Bali respectively.

My favorite part in the book is in the very beginning – in a particular moment of desperation, Liz writes a petition to God and mentally request and takes signatures from friends and family whom she know will support. I loved the idea.

The book may sound like a travelogue, a reflection, a love story, or random rant. However, more than once you relate to emotions of the author.

I rated the book as a must read – 4.5 out of 5. What re your views about this bestseller?

Sep 5, 2013

My original post planned for the day was seven people I love the most. But keeping in mind that today is teacher’s day celebrated in India; I change my post to seven teachers of high importance in my life.

Since everyone we meet, knowingly or unknowingly, whether we like or not, teaches us something, my post is categorized into groups who taught me a certain thing. This isn’t a first or second list, it is in the order of when I met them in my life.

Sep 4, 2013

More than once, I blame my nature and behavior to my zodiac sign. I am a Leo and being one I have certain good and bad issues with my personality. There are a few without which my life would be happier. Probably listing them down and getting to read will help.

Sep 3, 2013

In light of the recent debate upon depreciation of value of rupee, corruption, lack of security, etc. I often found myself loathing the nation that I was born in. I no longer remembered the moments of proudly singing the national anthem and saluting to our national flag. I started comparing my life to those who are settled in developed countries. But then amidst all this something happened – a discussion with a friend who is totally anti-India made me think that somewhere within me is someone who still believes in the greatness of this nation.

This post is a mere reflection of turmoil that goes inside my brain and maybe yours too.